grand canyon tour bus company

[drunkrussian]

looking to go on one of those $80 grand canyon bus tours to the south rim. The kind where they drive you up, you get some lunch/snack, it's a big bus with air conditioning and it takes ~14 hours.

i've researched and shitloads of companies seem to offer this same tour package. Anyone help me with:

1. is there a particular company/tour you went with that was good? Looking for a reputable company i guess that won't screw me over

2. is it true that you should book ahead online to get the good discounted price? Or is that bullshit and i can find that same price when i get there?

any advice would be appreciated!

[604nguyen]

Just a suggestion
I rented a car for 60 bucks and drove there myself
I find it a lot more relaxing than going on a rushed tour for 14 hours
But i went to the west rim which is a 2 - 3 hour drive from the strip. Still breathtaking view nonetheless, but there is some good section of unpaved desert road you need to drive through. The rental companies are aware of this, and most are okay with it.

[drunkrussian]

what months did you go? I am going in mid-december and heard that it snows up there and sometimes they get storms. Most things i've read online talking specifically about the sout hrim also recommend staying at extra night there, since it's actually a 5 hour drive to the south rim, as opposed to west, and we're wanting to do south rim

[Bender Unit]

Originally Posted by 604nguyen

i went to the west rim which is a 2 - 3 hour drive from the strip.

It was a 4 - 5 hours drive to West Rim from The Strip.
I did it in Sep. 2009 with my relative (total 5 pepole)
Rent a car for $200 for a day.
Then when we arrive, we paid around $40/person to take their 10 mins West Rim tour bus to Grand Canyon.

[604nguyen]

Originally Posted by drunkrussian

what months did you go? I am going in mid-december and heard that it snows up there and sometimes they get storms. Most things i've read online talking specifically about the sout hrim also recommend staying at extra night there, since it's actually a 5 hour drive to the south rim, as opposed to west, and we're wanting to do south rim

I went just a few months ago in August. Wanted to do the south rim if I had more time in Vegas, but it was a little too far for me.

[604nguyen]

Originally Posted by Bender Unit

It was a 4 - 5 hours drive to West Rim from The Strip.
I did it in Sep. 2009 with my relative (total 5 pepole)
Rent a car for $200 for a day.
Then when we arrive, we paid around $40/person to take their 10 mins West Rim tour bus to Grand Canyon.

4-5 hours if you drive like a granny


but yeah, booking a car ahead of time from the airport will save you a ridiculous amount of money, even for 60 bucks I felt ripped off, could have got the Chevy Aveo for $30/day but they were all taken out. Make sure you check out promo codes online first too.

What did you rent for $200/day? An Escalade?

[sonick]

lol